Showing posts with label accreditation of online learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accreditation of online learning. Show all posts
Friday, May 8, 2009
Military Recruiters Discriminating Against Virtual High School Grads?
Keeping hearing from virtual public school folks around the country that military recruiters consider their students' diplomas as "Tier 2" - equivalent to a GED - despite their school's authorization by the state or district, accreditation status, etc. That means that students are turned away from military service or come in at a lower status. The iNACOL Advocacy and Issues Committee is gathering evidence about this for a future push. If you've had this experience, please leave a comment here....and stay tuned for updates.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
WA: Two Coalitions, Two Bills
Lots of activity this year in the Evergreen State! Something of an unsung pioneer among online learning states, Washington has one state-level, non-profit aggregator of online resources called the Digital Learning Commons, plus dozens of district-based online programs offering both supplemental and full-time online learning to students across the state. In addition to trail-blazing homegrown programs like the Federal Way Internet Academy, a growing handful of these are significant-sized full-time programs operated in partnership with national providers.
Last fall, these digital learning "coopetitors" - who had been meeting informally for several years - formally organized as the Washington Coalition for Online Learning (WaCOL), a soon-to-be affiliate of iNACOL. A parents' coalition, Washington Families for Online Learning, is also getting off the ground.
Both groups are now tracking TWO bills in the Washington State Legislature:
* SB5378 - Clarifies the process for accreditation of digital learning programs and specifically names WaCOL as a having a role in recommending accrediting bodies. This bill passed the Senate unanimously and is currently in the House Education Committee. See http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5378&year=2009
* SB5410 - This more complex and controversial bill would establish a state-level process for approving "multi-district online programs," which under current law are the purview of the districts (with some state reporting). The bill would also create a one-stop-shopping information source for parents and students seeking programs. SB5410 passed the Senate on March 9 and will have a hearing in the House Education Committee on St. Patrick's Day. See http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5410&year=2009
Last fall, these digital learning "coopetitors" - who had been meeting informally for several years - formally organized as the Washington Coalition for Online Learning (WaCOL), a soon-to-be affiliate of iNACOL. A parents' coalition, Washington Families for Online Learning, is also getting off the ground.
Both groups are now tracking TWO bills in the Washington State Legislature:
* SB5378 - Clarifies the process for accreditation of digital learning programs and specifically names WaCOL as a having a role in recommending accrediting bodies. This bill passed the Senate unanimously and is currently in the House Education Committee. See http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5378&year=2009
* SB5410 - This more complex and controversial bill would establish a state-level process for approving "multi-district online programs," which under current law are the purview of the districts (with some state reporting). The bill would also create a one-stop-shopping information source for parents and students seeking programs. SB5410 passed the Senate on March 9 and will have a hearing in the House Education Committee on St. Patrick's Day. See http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5410&year=2009
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